Teacher accused of fondling student says she doesnt like to touch black children

HOUSTON – An Humble private school teacher accused of fondling a student has been charged with indecency with a child, but is denying the allegations by saying she’s prejudiced.

The incident allegedly happened on March 1 inside a classroom at Northwest Preparatory Academy, which is located in the 600 block of Charles Street.

“The victim said that she was in the classroom alone with the teacher and that the teacher touched her on the outside of her clothes, on what she called her ‘private part,’ her vaginal area,” said Humble Police Department Detective J. Blanchard.

The girl said when she told her teacher to stop, Irene Stokes, 61, told her to get out of the classroom, according to court records. The girl told investigators that Stokes made her stand out in the hallway outside of the class and then refused to allow her to eat lunch or take a test.

The child’s mother contacted school officials and was able to confirm that the girl did not eat lunch at school that day.

Stokes denied the allegations.

“She (said she) doesn’t like to even touch the black children on their hand, she shies away when they try to hug her -- she admitted to being prejudice,” Blanchard said.

Stokes also allegedly told investigators that she “doesn’t like the student and has little to no interaction with her,” according to court records.

A spokesperson for the school says Stokes is no longer employed at the campus.

“The employee involved was immediately placed on administrative leave as soon as the complaint was received, and the matter was investigated. As a result of the Academy’s investigation, the staff member in question has been terminated,” the school said in a statement released Tuesday.

Stokes is scheduled to appear in court on May 21. She was released from jail on a $10,000 bond.